Biscayne Bay Benthic Sampling Program

Mahadevan, Selvakumaran; Taft, William; Mote Marine Laboratory

Mote Marine Laboratory (MML) is pleased to submit this proposal for baseline benthic studies in Biscayne Bay. Dr. S. Mahadevan, a benthic ecologist with eleven years experience, will lead the MML's scientific team. In Phase 1, MML proposes to sample sixty sites (representative of all habitats in Biscayne Bay) during a wet and a dry season. At the sixty sites, benthic macrofauna will be sampled with a diver-operated box-core (dimensions: 12.5 cm x 12.5 cm, area and 20 cm penetration). Two samples will be collected at each site, with one serving as a reserve(with the option for analysis if total organism numbers are low in the first sample). To ensure sampling adequacy, three replicates for sediment analysis and five quadrats (0.25 m x 0.25 m area) for macroalgae are proposed to be collected at each site. Seagrasses would be characterized with photographs, qualitative samples and the box-core samples. Selected abiotic parameters would also be measured. Species lists, various biotic-abiotic correlations, and a report summarizing the results of Phase 1 will be submitted. Also, recommendations of specific locations for Phase 2 sampling would be made in this report. In Phase 2, MML proposes to sample about twelve stations every quarter for two years. Replication level for the macrofauna would increase to six samples (one sample will serve as a reserve). All other components would be sampled at the same replication level as Phase 1. Taxonomic adequacy, stringent quality controls and rigorous data analyses would ensure that the scientific data base is accurate and robust. The final report would summarize all data, provide statistical analyses of community interactions with other biotic and abiotic parameters, and generally describe seasonality and productivity of the Biscayne Bay benthos. Through the use of faunal similarity analyses, differences between seasons and between sites would be clearly delineated. The report would address the necessity of future studies and provide... (missing)